The Rival Alpha's Chosen Luna

The Traitor Within

Lucien stood over the spy's lifeless body.

The dungeon had fallen eerily silent.

One moment the man had been laughing.

The next...

He was dead.

Lucien crouched beside the corpse, his sharp eyes examining every detail.

No cuts.

No stab wounds.

No scent of poison.

Yet the man's veins had turned black in seconds.

Someone had made sure he would never reveal the truth.

The heavy dungeon doors swung open.

Darius rushed inside, two guards close behind.

"Alpha!"

His eyes widened at the sight before him.

"What happened?"

Lucien rose slowly.

"He was murdered."

Darius looked around the empty cell.

"There was no one else here."

"Exactly."

A chill settled over the dungeon.

Lucien looked toward the guards.

"Seal every entrance to the castle."

"Search every room."

"No one leaves."

The guards hurried away.

Darius lowered his voice.

"You think we have a traitor?"

Lucien's gaze hardened.

"I know we do."

Meanwhile...

Elara wandered through the castle gardens.

She couldn't stop thinking about the spy.

The atmosphere inside Blood Moon had changed.

Servants whispered nervously.

Warriors doubled their patrols.

Even the cheerful children had been called indoors.

Something was wrong.

As she rounded a marble fountain, she noticed an elderly gardener struggling to lift a heavy basket.

Without hesitation, she hurried over.

"Let me help."

The old man smiled gratefully.

"You shouldn't trouble yourself, my Lady."

"I'm not your Lady."

"Perhaps not yet."

He chuckled.

"But kindness is a queen's greatest strength."

Together they carried the basket to a nearby greenhouse.

The gardener wiped the dirt from his hands.

"I've worked here for forty years."

"I watched Alpha Lucien grow from a boy into the man he is today."

Elara looked at him curiously.

"Was he always so..."

She searched for the right word.

"Serious?"

The old man laughed.

"No."

"He used to smile all the time."

"What changed?"

The smile faded from the gardener's face.

"The night he lost everything."

Before Elara could ask what he meant...

A scream echoed across the gardens.

"Help!"

Both of them spun toward the sound.

A young servant came running.

"Someone's collapsed!"

Elara and the gardener hurried after her.

Near the servants' quarters, a maid lay unconscious on the ground.

Her breathing was shallow.

Several people stood around helplessly.

Elara immediately knelt beside her.

"Bring me clean water."

The servants hesitated.

One whispered,

"We should wait for the royal healer."

"There isn't time."

Her voice was firm.

"Please."

Something in her tone made them move.

Within moments, they returned with water and cloths.

Elara gently cooled the maid's forehead and checked her pulse.

"She's burning with fever."

The gardener stared in surprise.

"You know healing?"

"My mother taught me."

She smiled sadly.

"She believed every Luna should know how to care for her people."

The maid slowly opened her eyes.

"Thank... you..."

Relief spread through the gathered servants.

At that exact moment, Lucien entered the courtyard with Darius.

He stopped.

Watching silently.

He hadn't expected to find Elara kneeling in the dirt, comforting one of the lowest-ranking servants.

The servants bowed the moment they noticed him.

"My Alpha."

Lucien ignored them.

His attention remained on Elara.

She looked up.

For a brief second...

Their eyes met.

Something warm settled in his chest.

Darius leaned closer.

"Now they understand."

Lucien frowned.

"Understand what?"

"Why the Moon Goddess chose her."

Before Lucien could answer...

A raven landed on the castle wall.

Its leg carried a sealed black scroll.

One of the guards retrieved it and rushed toward Lucien.

"My Alpha..."

"The message came from Silver Fang."

Lucien broke the black wax seal.

His expression darkened as he read the letter.

Darius noticed the change immediately.

"What is it?"

Lucien slowly lowered the scroll.

"Alpha Gareth is dead."

The courtyard fell silent.

But that wasn't what troubled Lucien most.

He turned the parchment over and revealed the final line.

"His last words were... Protect Elara. They're coming"